Jammu, November 16
About 3,000 people from different walks of life today participated in the “Run for democracy” organised by the District Electoral Officer (DEO), Jammu, to sensitise residents about the significance of exercising their right to franchise in the elections.

The participants comprised students from various schools and colleges, senior citizens and officials from district administration. The 6-km run, which was flagged off from Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Satwari, concluded at Mini Stadium in Parade Ground.

Earlier, a street play was staged by the Rangyug theatre group at Higher Secondary School in Satwari.

A function was organised at Parade Ground, where the Natrang theatre group performed a play, “Loktantra ka mantra”, depicting importance of every vote and repercussions of not participating in the electoral process.

A senior officer, Avny Lavassa, welcomed the gathering and encouraged voters to cast their votes on December 20.

In his address, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, the District Education Officer, Jammu, appealed to participants to cast their vote and spread the message to their friends in order to strengthen the democracy.

A gathering of over 6,000 people attended the event at Parade Ground. The winners of the Run for Democracy were Naresh Kumar in the men’s category and Mandeep Kour in the women’s category.

Later, a signature campaign was also organised in which a large number of people participated. 

Jammu, November 16
With the addition of more than 20,000 Darbar move vehicles in the winter capital and lack of parking space, haphazard parking in various parts of the city has chocked all the roads leading to daily traffic jams.

The traffic police are having a tough time trying to streamline the traffic. Nevertheless, congestion is emerging as the biggest problem and due to 
lack of proper management and shortage of manpower, the traffic police have failed to deal with the situation. In most of the markets, there is no parking space.

The JDA and the JMC has “lent” road space for parking, which is adding up to the problem.

In congested markets of Residency Road, Jain Bazar, Panjtirthi, Gumat Chowk, Parade Shalamar, Purani Mandi, Raghunath Bazar, BC Road, High Court Road and Canal Road, several people continue to park vehicles on the road, which creates problems for smooth movement of vehicles.

Though the traffic police impound vehicles that are illegally parked, but the drive is not having any marked effect on people.

As per data, there are nine parking lots under the Jammu Development Agency with a capacity of 1,200 cars and 500 two-wheelers, raising a question mark over the claims by officials that they were looking into the futuristic needs of the city.

Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Mohan Lal said police personnel have been deployed at several places to ensure smooth flow of traffic and additional personnel would be deployed in the coming days.

“Efforts are on to ensure that people don’t have to suffer and new diversions are being planned so that there are less traffic jams during peak hours,” he added. 

Jammu, November 16
National Mazdoor Conference (NMC) president Subash Shastri today urged the state government to expedite the release of two pending instalments of 17 per cent DA to employees and pensioners. He said employees were facing difficulties due to rise in prices of essential commodities.

Shastri stated that in view of the inbuilt provisions in the annual budget, there should not be any problem for the state government in releasing funds.

The NMC president said others states had already released the installments long time ago.

He said an early decision in this regard by the authorities would give relief to employees.

Shastri asked the mainstream political parties to make their stand clear regarding regularisation of services of 62,000 causal/seasonal labourers/ad hoc and contractual employees of the state government. He said these parties should incorporate their stand in their election manifestos.

He said if a party was sincere about the issue, it should make a commitment in their manifesto that if the party comes to power, it will settle the issue in its first cabinet meeting itself.

He said this would be a major political issue in the ensuing elections of state Assembly and would decide the fate of many candidates.

Jammu, November 16
The Government Railway Police (GRP), Jammu, today averted a major tragedy by dousing the fire that broke out near an Indian Oil depot, adjacent to the local railway station.

On receiving information regarding the incident, Jammu Superintendent of Police (SP), Railways, Suram Singh deputed Station House fficer, GRP, Inspector Neeraj Choudhary; in charge, Police Post, GRP East; and a quick reaction team (QRT) from the GRP Lines for the job, along with the GRP commando team.

A fire tender was pressed into service and due to timely action, the fire was controlled and a major tragedy was averted.

The operation took place under the supervision of Superintendent of Police, Railways, Jammu, Suram Singh. The GRP jawans, who played a vital role in the operation, were rewarded by the SP, Railways

Srinagar, November 16
Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Sunday said the Congress was committed to acceleration in the development process in the Ladakh region.

He reminded the gathering that the Congress’ decision to establish the autonomous council in Leh in the 1990s had been a watershed for the neglected region. Azad was addressing public meetings at Padum and Sanku in Zanskar constituency of Kargil district. He urged the people to support Congress candidates.

Azad said the Congress had been a well-wisher of the people of the region. He said he had strove to foster the process of progress and prosperity in Leh and Kargil.

He said the upgrade of the airport in Leh and its promotion as an international tourist destination in the 1990s was his contribution as the Union Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister.

The Congress leader said setting up of the Chutak and Nimo Bazgo projects, sanctioning of Zojila and Z-Morh tunnels and upgrade of the Srinagar-Leh highway were some steps to bring Kargil and Ladakh on the development map.

Outlining the future vision for Leh and Kargil, he said the potential of horticulture, hydroelectric power and tourism would be tapped to raise the level of prosperity and progress.

Srinagar, November 16
Supporters of the ruling National Conference and opposition PDP today clashed in the Sonawari Assembly segment of Bandipora district in Kashmir where campaigning is taking place for the state polls.

The clashes broke out between rival supporters of the two political parties in Asham area of Bandipora district, resulting in damage to several vehicles, the police said. However, no one was injured in the incident, they said. Meanwhile, Yasir Reshi, PDP candidate from Sonawari, which will go to polls on November 25, alleged that NC workers had “orchestrated” an attack on his motorcade.

There are nine candidates in the fray for the Sonawari Assembly seat, including National Conference leader and Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone.

Meanwhile, PDP spokesman Naeem Akhtar alleged that Reshi was “attacked” by ‘Ikhwanis’ (counter insurgents) fielded by the ruling party to harass the common people and political opponents. — PTI

Jammu, November 16
After its best performance in the General Election, the BJP has emerged as a force to reckon with in state politics.

The party is being seen a serious contender by the NC and the PDP in Kashmir and the Congress and the Panthers Party in the Jammu region. The BJP is largely dependent on the election campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to win more than 44 seats and form the next government in the state.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti few days ago admitted that her party was in a direct fight with the BJP.

“We have no competition with the NC. Our contest is with the BJP. It will win between 18 and 20 seats,” she had said.

In the 1983 Assembly polls, the BJP failed to open its account. It won two seats in 1987, eight in 1996 and one in 2002. Following the Amarnath land row, it bounced back in 2008 with 11 seats.

“For us, everyone is a contender. We admit that the BJP is a serious competitor in the Assembly elections with its strong base during the General Election,” said Junaid Azim Mattu, NC spokesperson.

He said the weakening of the Congress in the Jammu region had paved the way for the strengthening of the BJP.

“We do not consider the BJP as a serious competitor except in a few constituencies. It will be exposed before the people in the Assembly elections,” said Ravinder Sharma, Congress spokesperson.

“The BJP lost the trust of the people when seven of its 11 MLAs cross-voted during the Legislative Council elections in April 2011,” he said.

He claimed that the BJP did not give the ticket to the seven MLAs on account of the fear of a drubbing at the hands of the Congress.

BJP ideologue and leader Hari Om exuded confidence that the party would win at least 30 of the 37 seats in the Jammu region and three of the four in Ladakh. “We will win some seats in Kashmir Valley as well. We have caused panic in rival camps because of our pro-people policies,” he said.

The BJP had secured 32.4 per cent of the vote share during the parliamentary polls. It won 11.5 lakh votes, the Congress 8.15 lakh, the PDP 7.3 lakh and the NC less than 4 lakh. The BJP failed to open its account in 1984 and 1989. It won one seat in the state in 1996 and two in 1998 and 1999.

It drew a blank again in 2004 and 2009. It won three of the six parliamentary seats earlier this year.

Jammu, November 16
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi are unlikely to campaign for party candidates in Jammu province in the first phase of elections. Party candidates of the six Assembly seats of the erstwhile Doda district are solely depending on former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has been aggressively campaigning in these segments.

Polling in 15 Assembly seats will be held in the first phase of elections on November 25. These 15 constituencies include five in the Kashmir valley, all the four of the Ladakh region and six of Jammu province. The six Assembly constituencies of Jammu province comprise Banihal, Ramban, Doda, Bhaderwah, Inderwal and Kishtwar of the erstwhile Doda district.

Highly placed sources in the Congress said the party high command has put all the responsibility of campaigning in these constituencies on Azad as Doda is his native district and he has personal contacts in this mountainous belt.

“Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are likely to campaign for Congress candidates in Ladakh or the Kashmir valley but they are unlikely to visit to the erstwhile Doda district,” said a source. He added that the party had asked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to campaign in Doda district for its candidates as many parts of the district fall near the border with that state.

“A large number of BJP workers from Himachal Pradesh have been working in Doda district to assist party candidates, so the Congress has tactically decided to depute Virbhadra Singh in this region,” the source said.

Jammu, November 16
PDP candidate from Rajpora Haseeb Drabu Sunday said the party would end the exploitation of religious minorities by ensuring a constitutional and legislative framework for political and economic empowerment.

He was interacting with displaced Kashmir Pandits at Muthi camp. He said the party had emerged as a regional voice in the state with the support of Sikhs, Pandits and other minority communities.

“The party is committed to safeguard the distinctive cultural, social and religious identity of minorities. It is a misplaced notion that Pandits are migrants. They are a displaced community and have every right to return with honour and dignity,” Drabu said.

He said all initiatives for their rehabilitation had descended into a din of personal and political statements and nobody seemed to be making a sincere effort towards their political and economic empowerment.

“Pandits cannot be used as a political tool. They have to be reintegrated and absorbed in the Kashmiri milieu with dignity. The real challenge lies in having favourable conditions for reconciliation, rehabilitation and reintegration,” he said.

He said the Centre and the state owed an apology to Pandits. “It needs political will to start a dialogue based on a legal framework of citizenship and constitutional rights of citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity,” he said.

Srinagar, November 16
A close contest is on the cards in the sparsely populated but highly polarised Zanskar Assembly segment, scheduled to go to polls in the first phase on November 25.

The voters in this segment are scattered far and wide and candidates would have to test their adrenaline to access the remotest corners of Zanskar as many of the inhabitations are not motorable.

Zanskar, together with the neighbouring Ladakh region, was briefly a part of the Guge kingdom in western Tibet. It is known for its monasteries, the Karsha being the oldest one.

The area was included in the list of Assembly segments in 1996 and to start with remained a bastion of the ruling National Conference till 2005 byelection.

NC candidate Mohammad Abbas won the seat in 1996. He was re-elected in 2002. However, in 2005, the NC hegemony over Zanskar ended with Ghulam Raza, an Independent, winning the byelection on the seat.

The NC though extracted a sweet revenge in the following Assembly polls in 2008 when Feroz Khan, minister of state in the Omar Abdullah-led government, pipped Raza by over a thousand votes.

Ghulam Raza is in the fray this time also, but as a Congress nominee.

Feroz Khan was elevated to the council of ministers in 2012 by Omar and it was taken as a prelude to his nomination for seeking re-election from the constituency.

“Overconfident Khan, who sailed with the support of the Islamia School, a religious seminary, attempted to take a solo plunge on the school’s backing this time around,” said Bashir Ahmed, a political observer who keeps a watch on Kargil affairs.

This defiant proclamation reached the Nawai Subah headquarters of the NC and was taken as umbrage and the party punished Khan by denying him the ticket. The NC, instead, decided to support Independent Aga Syed Baqir, who belongs to an influential religious family from Taisuru village of the area. Baqir’s family has great influence on many of the impoverished Shia villagers who unquestionably follow their religious leaders.

The bulk of the voters in the constituency come from the Suru valley and nearly 9,000 are from the Zanskar sub division. In the past, most of the legislators from the segment have been from Suru.

The BJP has nominated Tsering Lakpa for the seat and the party is pinning hopes on the Buddhist votes in the constituency. The Opposition Peoples Democratic Party has fielded Ghulam Muhammad, a social worker, from Zanskar.

Even as the main contest will remain between Raza and Baqir, the BJP could spring a surprise in the communally sensitive constituency. 

Handwara, November 16
Sajjad Gani Lone has sensed that it is his moment and with the BJP having given a firm signal that it is open to a post-poll alliance with him, there is a strong buzz that he will be the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. That would be a first for north Kashmir.

Sitting in his revolving chair, this 47-year-old leader, dressed in casuals, asserts that “the ideological impediment will not be allowed to impact development. We are a backward area with poverty punctuating lives of people, we need development.” Thus, he makes it abundantly clear that for the sake of “development”, the state would not be allowed to suffer any more because of the varying ideology of the Centre and that of the state parties, particularly Peoples Conference, which is a champion of greater autonomy for Kashmir.

The ideological impediment at the moment is read in the BJP’s slogan of abrogation of the Article 370, thus snatching away the special status of the state.

“Development can impact the ideology,” is the new theme of the Peoples Conference leader who is being viewed as a potential Chief Minister by his supporters, while his critics assail him for having “sold his soul”.

Sajjad gets restive while talking of the Article 370. “Tell me what is the Article 370 today and what it was. It has been eroded since (Peoples Democratic Party patron) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was in the Congress in 1960s, and during the rule of subsequent governments.”

And, he clarified that this Assembly election was “for development and not for resolving the Kashmir issue”. “There are other forums that can be used for resolving this issue,” he added.

“I want to change the oligarchy of the two families (represented by former minister Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Mufti Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti),” the Sajjad said. So far, the Centre has invested in these families and not with people and the result is there for all to see.

Where does he stand? Is he a separatist, ex-separatist or in the mainstream? He answers this question with a cryptic remark: “I am a rationalist.”

There is something called dynamism, which requires a change with time. “Separatists are stagnating. They are singing the same theory which they did in the 1950s. Either they have not woken up to the new challenges and times or they refused to do so. Once there is a change with time, the out-of-the-box solution will come up automatically,” Sajjad observed. His elder brother Bilal Lone is a member of the executive committee of Hurriyat Conference (moderate).

Sajjad’s father and founder of the Peoples Conference Abdul Gani Lone was assassinated on May 21, 2002, after he had declared himself against foreign militants, whom he had accused of using the Kashmir valley to spread terror to New Delhi and White House.

Replying to a question on the buzz after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 10 about his likelihood of becoming Chief Minister, he said people were picking up from the media. “They read and hear everything and then discuss among themselves, I have a lot of patience,” he said. “If ever I sit on this (CM’s) chair, I would not belittle the chair,” he added.

On his meeting with Modi, Sajjad said: “He (Narendra Modi) is the Prime Minister of India and anyone can meet him. If they (Abdullahs and Muftis) meet him, that’s a good thing but if son of a ‘dehati’ (rural man) meets PM then it is a bad thing. Questions are raised and motives attributed. We discussed Kashmir and he has ideas and vision on Kashmir.”

The Peoples Conference has contested two parliamentary elections and lost. Sajjad said the earlier elections were an exercise to “consolidate our cadre and we were essentially preparing for the Assembly elections. Our time is now. This time the PC is contesting on 25 seats.”

On the BJP not fielding a candidate against Sajjad, he winds up with, “Thank you to the BJP.” 

Kulgam, November 16
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbboba Mufti today said the BJP might end up winning 15 to 20 seats in the coming Assembly polls, even as she admitted that it would be contest between her party and the saffron outfit.

“The coming Assembly elections will be a contest between the PDP and the BJP,” Mehbboba said, adding the BJP might win “15 to 20 Assembly segments.” She said the “misgovernance” by the ruling National Conference-Congress dispensation has provided a foot hold to the saffron party in Kashmir valley.

“Their poor performance has hugely benefited the BJP and they have emerged as the second largest party in Kashmir,” Mehbooba said while addressing a public gathering in Areh Muhammadpora here.

The PDP president also criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for wielding a broom to please Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “He (Omar) has been accusing us of trying to forge an alliance with the BJP and the first thing he does on Modi’s arrival in the Valley is to get hold of a broom,” Mehbooba quipped.

The PDP president accused Omar of making a mockery of the Chief Minister’s chair. “Omar Abdullah never made a serious effort for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act,” she said.

She said it would be a contest between her party and the BJP and the saffron outfit might end up winning 15 to 20 seats in the coming polls. “The coming Assembly elections will be a contest between the PDP and the BJP,” Mehbboba said, adding the BJP might win “15 to 20 Assembly segments.”

Srinagar, November 16
With the clamour surrounding the BJP’s stand on the abrogation of Article 370 failing to die down, the party today said it would follow peoples’ wishes in this regard.

“This issue (Article 370) has been cleared by everyone from our Prime Minister to all our spokespersons. They (regional parties) are trying to build the air and create a drama that if the BJP comes to power who knows what it would do…. I want to assure you that whatever the people desire, the BJP will do that only,” BJP chief whip in the Rajya Sabha and in charge J&K affairs Avinash Rai Khanna told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of party’s “media war room” here.

Khanna was reacting to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s comments that the abrogation of Article 370 would cause “unrest” in the state.

Farooq, while pointing to the growing ties between the BJP and separatist-turned-mainstream leader Sajjad Lone, had accused the saffron party of wooing people who have been strong supporters of an “independent Kashmir”.

The BJP leader though trashed Farooq’s criticism, saying, “The change in the mindsets of those who did not earlier believe in the Indian Constitution should be welcomed.”

Emphasising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal interest with regard to the development of the Valley, Khanna said: “The BJP is confident of accomplishing the ‘Mission 44 plus’ in the coming Assembly polls.”

Srinagar, November 16
Claiming that they have not been paid any relief, the CRPF has demanded payment of ex gratia to the next of kin of its personnel killed and those who were injured during the civil unrest in 2010 on a par with civilians, whom the Centre had given Rs 5 lakh each.

The paramilitary force, deployed with the state police to quell civil unrest and maintain law and order in Kashmir, claimed that seven CRPF personnel were killed and 1,728 injured in 2,298 incidents of stone throwing in parts of Kashmir.

In 2010, five CRPF personnel were killed, but none of their next of kin was paid the ex gratia sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The CRPF authorities stated this in the application submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

The High Court is hearing a PIL seeking investigation into and registration of murder cases against security forces for killing 117 civilians. Demanding ex gratia and compensation, the CRPF took cue from previous High Court directions.

The High Court had earlier directed the state government and the Centre to pay ex gratia to next of kin of those killed in 2010 on account of the civil disturbance. Of the 1,728 injured personnel, 305 received grievous injuries. In the application, the CRPF sought directions to the competent authorities.

State, Centre differ over 2010 unrest

The state government and the Centre differ on the date the 2010 unrest began. The former is of the view that incidents were reported throughout the year while the latter is of the opinion that there was no incident prior to June 11. The Centre has refused to sanction ex gratia to next of kin of the victims killed before June 11 or after September 25 that year. Ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each has been given in 105 cases and claims have not been accepted in 11 cases.

Srinagar, November 16
The Army recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar area of frontier Kupwara district today.

An Army spokesman said the IEDs weighing 4 kg each were recovered from Amrui village, 150 km from here when an Army patrol noticed them.

“A patrol party of the infantry unit detected two IEDs planted near the foot track leading to the village around 6.30am today,” he said.

He said based on the intelligence inputs received from the unit source, the troops of the infantry unit carried out a search operation of the areas astride the foot track of Amrui village resulting into the recovery of two IEDs.

“The area was immediately cordoned off on either side of the track and IEDs were recovered,” the spokesman said.

“A major tragedy was thus averted by thwarting the ill designs of the terrorists who intended to cause violence and terror in the run-up to the Assembly elections,” he said.

On November 11, the Army had claimed to have recovered three IEDs close to the LoC in the Tangdhar sector. After the recovery of the three IEDs, the Army had claimed that they were smuggled from the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir by the militants for disruption of the five-phased polls in the state beginning November 25. 

Srinagar, November 16
Relatives of Zahoor Ahmad Najar, who was killed in a mysterious blast in Lachi area of Langate in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday, have demanded stern action against the accused “security men” involved in the killing.

They said Zahoor was not linked to any militant outfit or agency and was earning a livelihood by working as a carpenter. “He was innocent and killed as a result of some conspiracy. We want the police to thoroughly investigate the matter and give stern punishment to the accused “security men” involved in the killing,” said Bashir Ahmad Najar, brother of the deceased.

“He left the home unarmed and locals found two grenades tied to his body, which is a clear indication that he was killed,” he added.

Two security men, who were injured in the blast, were later identified as head constable Ravinder Chogli and constable Nitesh Kumar. Both the security men are undergoing treatment at an Army hospital in Srinagar. Zahoor’s father Ghulam Qadir Najar is seriously ill and bedridden for the past some years and Zahoor was the only breadwinner of the poor family.

“He got a call on his mobile around 12.30pm and left home to offer Friday prayers in Qalamabad. After 15 minutes, he was killed in a mysterious blast. We want stern punishment to the people involved his killing. He was not linked to militancy,” said Zahoor’s mother Jana Begum.

The killing had evoked protests in the area on Friday and locals demanded action against the security men injured in the blast. Langate MLA Engineer Rashid has demanded immediate arrest of the accused. “The police should register a murder case against the accused and they should be arrested,” said the MLA. 

Srinagar, November 16
An ex-servicemen’s rally was organised Sunday at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre on the outskirts of the city for the ex-servicemen of Srinagar and nearby areas.

An Army spokesman said the aim of the rally was to address the issues of interest to ex-servicemen, including redress of their grievance, benefits of the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme and spreading awareness about the schemes offered by the state government and the Centre.

“It was more important in the wake of the recent floods which hit the state and resulted in tremendous loss to both life and property,” he said.

The rally was attended by a large number of ex-servicemen, veer naris and their relatives. Brig Pankaj Sinha, Commandant of the centre, was the chief guest at the rally.

Various counters were set up to redress the grievances and problems of ex-servicemen. Brigadier Sinha urged ex-servicemen to take the maximum benefit from the interaction.

“This interaction has been organised with the aim to address problems of ex-servicemen, help them tide over devastation caused by floods and keep them abreast with recent schemes and policies of various government agencies for their welfare,” he said.

Pulwama, November 16
One person was shot dead on Sunday after suspected militants fired on him in Dogripora village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district while he was going to the local mosque to offer prayers.

The victim was identified as Ghulam Mohidin Dar, brother of sarpanch Mohammad Shaban Dar, who was killed by militants in April during the parliamentary elections.

The police said Ghulam Mohidin received three bullet injuries, one each in the ribs, leg and abdomen. He was taken to the community hospital in Awantipora soon after the attack.

He was later referred to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in Srinagar, where he was declared brought dead.

The police said they had laid a cordon in the area and launched a search to hunt the suspected militants. Nearly 50 militants were active in Pulwama and Shopian districts of south Kashmir.

Most of them were new recruits. Two youths from Dogripori had recently joined the Jaish-e-Mohammad and were allegedly involved in the murder of the sarpanch earlier this year.

Srinagar, November 16
A body of private schools has expressed their angst with the state government for announcing early winter vacations. The state government had announced that the winter vacations for Classes I to VIII would begin from November 24, more than three weeks ahead of the usual timing, whereas for Classes IX onwards, the winter vacations would start from December 8.

The normal winter vacations for all classes used to start from December 15 every year but last year, the vacations started from December 1 in view of intense cold.

The Private Schools United Front (PSUF) said the winter vacations this year had been further advanced apparently in view of the Assembly elections, scheduled to start from November 25. A large number of school buildings will be used as polling stations or to house the polling staff and security forces.

It further said the students were expecting incentives from the state government which were also not announced.

The front termed the decision flawed as according to the government order, schools had to be closed in sunny days and opened in extreme winter.

The front has demanded that the government devise rules and regulations based on scientific principles for deciding dates and duration of the winter vacations.

The front demanded that the government constitute an expert committee comprising officials of the government education department, private schools, weather department and a student-parent body.

“This year the officials concerned have broken all records of mismanagement. They have set the opening date for schools as February 23. Till date there is no history of schools being opened in February when it is extreme winter,” said GN Var, President PSUF.

“Unfortunately, winter vacations are announced according to the whims and fancies of certain officials who along with their families want to enjoy the warm weather of Jammu as soon as Durbar Move shifts,” he added.

The front said the government announced to close the schools without announcing sops for the flood-affected students. “These students didn’t get any scholarship, new books or alternatives for damaged school buildings,” said Var. “Even students up to Class 7 were not given mass promotion despite the fact that their examination is just a formality, as the unit and term tests have already been completed in which nobody can be retained,” he added.

The front said if the students were granted mass promotion they would have better utilised the winter vacations rather than now.

The front termed the government decision as a unilateral decision with no regard for public opinion. “They didn’t consult school heads or parents while deciding the vacations. No logical reason was given for advancing the vacations,” said Var. 

‘Education sacrificed for elections’

Director School Education Mir Tariq Ali on Friday announced winter vacation in all government and private schools from November 24 up to Class 8 and from December 8 up to Class XII. The opening date for schools has been set as February 23. The normal winter vacations for all classes used to start from December 15 every year but last year, the vacations started from December 1 in view of intense cold. The Private Schools United Front said the winter vacations this year had been further advanced apparently in view of the Assembly elections, scheduled to start from November 25. A large number of school buildings will be used as polling stations or to house the polling staff and security forces.

Srinagar, November 16
Traders have accused the government of shifting focus to the upcoming elections and shying away from relief works for flood victims.

“The state and Central governments are now fully focusing on the coming elections and are least bothered about the welfare of the flood-affected people,” Kashmir Traders Federation (KTF) spokesman Aijaz Shahdar said.

The KTF also flayed the government for its failure to put the tourism sector back on track.

“Tourism is the backbone of the Kashmir economy and no stone should be left unturned for its revival. We are seeing the efforts being made by the stakeholders, but the government is still playing a wait and watch game,” Shahdar said.

He regretted that the government was only playing politics and not taking any concrete steps towards the revival of the business and tourism sector.

The business community has already submitted its demands for putting the businesses back on track after the floods that include exemption on entry tax, goods with transport companies destroyed/damaged by floods to be considered on case-to-case basis, e-filing of returns to be made optional for time-being, income tax holiday for the next 10 years to all businesses to recoup the losses and grant of loans as per the RBI guidelines for natural calamities.

Srinagar, November 16
The Income Tax Bar Association in Kashmir has appealed to the Union Finance Minister to further extend the last date of filing income tax return and audit report, considering the September floods that caused heavy losses to the business community.

The Finance Ministry had already extended the last date to November 30, but the Association has demanded the date be further extended till March 2015 due to various technical problems being faced by them.

“The communication system in the Valley has completely collapsed. The internet services in major commercial areas such as Lal Chowk, Residency Road, Karan Nagar etc, where offices of most of the members (of are situated, have not been restored,” read the memorandum submitted by the association to the Union minister.

It stated that though electricity had been restored in most of the locations, the authorities had not been able to ensure a continuous supply.

“The Sales Tax Department has extended the last date for filing VAT audit reports to March 31. The extension granted by the Sales Tax Department will be of no significance if the date is not extended by the Income Tax Department,” it said.

The memorandum stated that in 2005, when the state was hit by an earthquake, the due date of filling auditable returns was extended to March 31, 2006.

It stated that assessees of the state were shocked when they were served scrutiny notices at a time when they devastated by the floods.

“We request that the assessees of Jammu & Kashmir be exempted from scrutiny proceedings for the assessment year 2013-2014 and the ongoing scrutiny proceeding for the assessment year 2012-2013 be summarily concluded with the available information,” it said.

It also sought that the assessees of Jammu & Kashmir be exempted from payment of self-assessment tax payable for the assessment year 2014-2015 and advance tax for the assessment year 2015-16.

Srinagar, November 16
The Central University of Kashmir (CUK) will celebrate International Students’ Day tomorrow.

The university will conduct students’ discussion on “Quality education for all” and an essay competition on “Creating Employment Opportunities through Higher Education” on its Nowgam campus to mark the occasion.

Officiating Vice Chancellor Mehraj-ud-Din will inaugurate the event.

According to the programme coordinator and Dean School of Education NA Nadeem, the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) proposes to select the best recommendations and suggestions on the subject and also invite one student leader from the selected institutions to Delhi to interact with the Minister of Human Resources Development and also attend a Parliament session when discussion on education would take place.

Srinagar, November 16
Kashmir University (KU) has earned a whopping Rs 12.5 lakh from the sale of over 2,000 application forms. These forms are for various professional courses, including Postgraduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology, Bachelors in Special Education, Bachelors in Physiotherapy and Bachelors and Postgraduate in Nursing.

Applications were invited by the university till November 5. Students said the university had charged “unreasonably high rates” for the application forms this time, which might not be affordable for all.

They said the university had been increasing the rates of application forms every year, leading to applicants dropping out of these courses.

“For each course, the applicant has to shell out Rs 500. There are many who want to opt for more than one course. The authorities cannot remain insensitive to the genuine problems of the students,” said Ishfaq, an applicant.

Students said at a time when floods had caused huge devastation across the Valley and universities were considering fee waiver on admission/entrance fee, KU should not have increased its form fee. Furthermore, the university stated in its notification that the criteria of admission to these courses would be Class XII score and not any entrance test.

The students said earlier admission in professional courses at KU used to take place on the basis of entrance test, which has been done away with.